Ophioglossum lusitanicum
| Ophioglossum lusitanicum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Ophioglossales |
| Family: | Ophioglossaceae |
| Genus: | Ophioglossum |
| Species: | O. lusitanicum
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| Binomial name | |
| Ophioglossum lusitanicum | |
| Synonyms | |
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Ophioglossum lusitanicum, the least adder's-tongue,[1] is a small fern of the family Ophioglossaceae. It is a pan-tropically species categorised as least concern by the IUCN (2001).[2]
Description
Ophioglossum lusitanicum is a small winter annual fern, and consists of a simple sterile blade attached to a spike-like fertile blade with between three and eight sunken sporangia on either side. The whole plant rarely exceeds a height of 2 cm.[3]
This species has a chromosome number of 2n = 250–260.[3]
Distribution
Ophioglossum lusitanicum is native to: Africa and India. It is also found on the western seaboard of Europe (Great Britain, Spain and Portugal); the Atlantic Islands (Cape Verde and the Canary Islands); the Middle East (Israel and Iran);[4]) South America (Peru and Argentina); and Australasia (Australia and New Zealand).[5]
The distribution in Britain is restricted to one small area of coastal heath on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly where it was discovered by John Raven in 1950. It grows in short turf on Wingletang Down where some of the colonies are suffering from an increase of competitive grasses, gorse (Ulex europaeus) and bramble (Rubus fruticosus).[6] Ophioglossum lusitanicum is listed on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
In Australasia and South America, this species is represented by a subspecies, Ophioglossum lusitanicum subsp. coriaceum (A. Cunn.) R.T. Clausen [7][8]
Ecology
As this species is a winter annual, it requires a warm winter environment. In its British populations, it favours thin, unshaded, peaty soils in south-facing localities.[9]
Ophioglossum lusitanicum subsp. coriaceum has a much broader ecological range in southern Australia, where habitats include damp open sites; from coast meadows to alpine grassland.[10] It is found in New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, and other states.[11]
References
- ^ Clive Stace (1 April 2010). New Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press. pp. 9–. ISBN 978-1-139-48649-1.
- ^ Irudayaraj, V. (2011). "Ophioglossum lusitanicum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T194161A8885861. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T194161A8885861.en. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b Stace, Clive, (1997). New Flora of The British Isles, second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- ^ Naqinezhad, AR & Kavousi, K. (2004) The easternmost distribution of Ophioglossum lusitanicum L., new to flora of Iran. –Iran Journ. Bot. 10 (2): 167-171.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Life: Ophioglossum lusitanicum
- ^ Bennallick, I.J., French, C.F and Parslow, R.E. (2009) Vascular Plants. In CISFBR, Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition. Praze-an-Beeble: Croceago Press.
- ^ The Plant List.org: Ophioglossum lusitanicum subsp. coriaceum
- ^ NZ Plant Conservation Network: Ophioglossum coriaceum
- ^ Online Atlas of the British Flora: Ophioglossum lusitanicum
- ^ Ferns of New South Wales: Ophioglossum lusitanicum
- ^ Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: Ophioglossum lusitanicum
External links
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Ophioglossaceae
- Ferns of the Americas
- Ferns of Asia
- Ferns of Australasia
- Ferns of Europe
- Ferns of Argentina
- Ferns of New Zealand
- Flora of the Canary Islands
- Flora of Cape Verde
- Flora of Iran
- Flora of Israel
- Flora of Lebanon
- Flora of New South Wales
- Flora of Palestine (region)
- Flora of Peru
- Flora of Portugal
- Flora of Spain
- Flora of England
- Plants described in 1753
- Vulnerable plants
- Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus